For All Eternity
~~~
The walls were as white as snow. The floors were covered with peach and white clean ceramic tiles. Women were walking around, wearing short, pencil- cut and short-sleeved clothes, taking swift strides along the wide, quiet corridors while carrying a small notebook and a couple of medicines in brown and white boxes, perhaps in a hurry. But of course, no woman can run fast with pencil-cut clothes. Most wore a long, white collared shirt with a formal silver ball pen pinned on their chest pockets, and some were in white clothes with large pockets in the sides. Stethoscopes were around their necks.
This had happened to him before. Gloomy white rooms, gloomy faces, withered and sick bodies laid on pure white sheets, and dismal people mourned around the bed frame. Everything was so dreary. The muffled voices and cries echoed in the snow-white halls. Everybody can hear the mourning voices. Everybody can feel the sadness of the mourner's fruitless efforts of bringing the cold cadavers back to life. If there is somebody who doesn't, then he or she is definitely a gargoyle.
Yes, this really had happened. He could hardly remember. He was still a child then. But he could remember not to understand what exactly was going on. His father laid on the bed, his mother next to him, and his big brother, well he couldn't really recall. But he could recall seeing those precious tears fall from his mother's cheeks. This sight made him feel like he's carrying a heavy box in his chest. He felt like crying, but he was too confused to allow too many emotions to wash over him.
He had his amber eyes on his good friend Kagome. Minutes ago she was crying, and he felt like crying too, but now she's laughing and smiling. Perhaps relieved of seeing her mother look quite healthy on the bed she's sitting on.
Inu Yasha stayed on the room's door and watched the people that accepted him proclaim joyous thanks that nothing dreadful happened to each of them. He was quite happy himself when Kagome's oji-san told him that her oka-san is doing fine in the hospital. Higurashi-san had been a very loving person, thank Kami she's still alive and she's all right.
"Kagome." He called seriously from the door. His tone caught the attention of the two.
"Yes, Inu Yasha? What is it?" Kagome answered back.
"I don't want to spoil your fun, but..." He paused for a while and sighed. "My brother will come here and get you."
Mrs. Higurashi shook her head. "No, Inu Yasha. For the last time, I will not allow him to take my daughter from me."
"Higurashi-san," Inu Yasha sadly answered. "He will never stop until he gets what he wants. He's too stubborn to give way. Besides, without Kagome, he can't claim his birthrights."
Kagome stood up and walked to him. "Inu Yasha, I don't want to go back in there. I don't want to worry my Oka-san again." She looked over her shoulder and smiled at her mother.
He sighed. "That's what I'm talking about. We have to go somewhere, anywhere. So he can't track you down."
Kagome turned to her mother and then back to Inu Yasha. "Let's go." She nodded.
"Mama, I'll call oji-chan to watch over you while were away, okee?"
"Okee." Mrs.Higurash smiled. "Take good care of her for me, my dear."
"Hai." Inu Yasha bowed low to Mrs. Higurashi and pulled Kagome out of the room. "Let's go."
Kagome had high hopes that her life will be back to normal once they get far from the hospital. Sooner or later, her mother would come back to their little home where they can live happily ever after. They could also move to another place so they'll live in peace again.
But all her happy thoughts of the future vanished when Inu Yasha stopped in his tracks and she paused in agony and saw the man of her nightmares standing in front of them, with sharp eyes and a deadly blank face. He had simple clothes on, a polo shirt and black pants, like he pulled anything from his closet and left.
"What the hell do you want this time, Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha frowned and clenched his fists furiously.
"Damn you. Why do you always have to stand in my way?" His voice was fuming, but his face was as impassive as ever.
"She will never be happy with a demon like you! She doesn't want to be with you either!" Inu Yasha stepped forward, but Kagome held his arms and pulled him back.
Sesshomaru became more irritated when he saw this. "So, the slut doesn't want me because she wants you? Now that's a compromise."
"Asshole!!" Inu Yasha yelled at him. And if it wasn't for Kagome, he already had launched his fists to his brother's face. "Don't you DARE call her that!!"
"Give her to me and everything will be over."
"No, you asshole. Everything will be a lot worse if I give her to you! You're nothing but a heartless damned bullshit that thinks of nothing else but your stupid birthright --!"
Inu Yasha didn't saw where that fist came from, but he just fell onto his knees, choking at that strong blow delivered to his stomach and almost made him cough out the meal he took for breakfast. Kagome ran over to his side to comfort him somehow. "D-damn you!!!"
Sesshomaru walked closer to give him another shot for cursing him, but Kagome flashed him and angry look.
"Stop right there! Don't you take another step closer!" He could hear from her voice her fear. But it was mixed with doubting courage and anger.
"And what do you think you can do, bitch?" Sesshomaru watched her rise from the floor and returned the sharp look. "Now, come to me and we will leave right away."
"Stop calling me a bitch because I am not!" She snapped back. "Now I'll tell you that I WON'T come with you no matter what happens, hear that?! Now go away!" She demanded seriously.
"Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi called from the room. The squeaking of the bed frame told her than she's trying to pull herself up. This made her shed tears. Her mother is recovering, but she's not advised to walk on her own yet.
"Please, Sesshomaru." Now Kagome was begging, not demanding. "I can't go with you."
She is so soft, so kind, so fragile "You must come with me."
She shook her head. Her tears fell from the corners of her eyes to the thin air. 'I don't want to go anywhere, please... My mother needs my help."
"She is old enough to help herself. She is of no essence to me, and she doesn't need you, I need you."
Sesshomaru mentally slapped himself. What were the last words he said? Did he just - -?
"No essence? Perhaps to you because you didn't even helped her out or asked your stupid guards to take her to the hospital when you took me away! Your men left her there to die! And if it wasn't for Inu Yasha, she could be dead by now! If I go with you and this happens to me, will you help me out?"
He was lost of words. He just watched her tears fall from her eyes and just listened to her shaking voice as she speaks.
"No, because all that is important to you are nothing else but your birthrights!"
"Shut up, wench. You know nothing." He calmly replied. He has a heart. He knows it. But she doesn't want to listen to anything he says because he is the villain here. He is the evil guy. He says nothing right and not even one of his verdicts is correct. None of his actions are proper.
"Now leave, PLEASE!" Kagome lowered her head and looked at the floor.
So this is the role they want me to play... Sesshomaru frowned. He already said that he 'needed' her, but she ignored it. Half of him wanted to renew his memories with her. Half of him wanted to refresh the thoughts he made for her that she is his only friend. But half of him hated her for ignoring him, for not hearing him out, for answering her back, for showing him how she worries and how she cares for his half-brother. And lastly, he hated her for making him think he is the scoundrel. Then so be it.
Sesshomaru pulled her arm and punched the part of her stomach near her diaphragm. She passed out at the blow then fell lifeless on his arms, and then he heard the old woman shout.
"Sesshomaru, please don't take her!!" Then a loud thump. The old woman probably hit the floor. And Inu Yasha, like he wasn't knocked down, he quickly stood up to his feet, ignoring the pain in his stomach and launched himself towards Sesshomaru, his fist in the air and tried to hit him with all his strength.
"Give her back to me, Sesshomaru!!" Sesshomaru was able to evade his attack by sidestepping to the left, and used his right leg to hit him again on his stomach.
For the second time, Inu Yasha fell on the clean white floor. And this time he coughed out red blood. Once, twice, and thrice. "Don't... Sessho- maru...!"
Then another scream came from the old woman in the room. "NO SESSHOMARU!!"
~~~
Sesshomaru carried her out of his car and took her inside of his home. Before entering the door, he looked up at the darkened skies and frowned. Rain will fall in a few minutes.
He took her slowly to his bedroom, laid her on his bed and placed the sheets over her up to her chest. There were still traces of tears on her face, but he didn't mind brushing it off. He walked to the other side of the room towards the full-scale windows and arranged the curtains, so that the sunlight won't disturb her.
For a while he stood on the side of the bed and stared at her intently. He didn't like the image he just showed in the hospital, but he has to be firm all the time. He mustn't take his words back, he should always mean it.
She stirred in her sleep. And mumbled a name under her breath. A name she will always pronounce in hatred, until the end of time.
"Sesshomaru... Don't..."
He wanted to reach down to her and comfort her. Tell her that he's not always edgy, not always stubborn. He is a type of person that is needed to be understood. He must be understood, before he will learn to understand.
Then the door suddenly opened. It was Hao, with sweat all over his face full of anxiety.
"Young Master? How is she? Is she okay?" The old man walked over to the bedroom. Sesshomaru didn't answered any of her questions and just walked away and left the room.
"Stay here until she wakes up."
"Yes, Master. Oh dear Kagome..."
Sesshomaru closed the door behind him. His stepmother stood by the door, looking at him with a dropping jaw and dilated eyes, waiting for him to explain what happened. But he doesn't feel like talking. Perhaps he'll just go back to his office and work with his papers. He's too tired to explain things again when the listener's not going to listen but criticize.
He just walked away without saying a word.
Another weakness he cannot overcome.
And some people say he is strong.
How can a man be strong if he cannot win over his own weaknesses?
~~~
He walked straight to his office down to the first floor of his mansion. The moment he got to the door of his office, he pulled the door, went inside and slammed the door back close. That was his way of telling people to keep away and that he is, again, in a foul mood.
He walked towards the curtain-covered windows and pulled the curtains neatly to the sides to let the last rays of the sun reach his room. He was right, it's going to rain. It's still summer, all right, but a few weeks more, they would start to experience the cold puffs of the approaching autumn, and soon, winter.
Sesshomaru just stood there and stared at the magnificent view of his backyard from his window. There were pots of poppies, morning glories, roses and hawthorns in different sizes, shapes and colors neatly arranged on the grassy ground. And among the pots stood an old wooden lounger, which, he could recall, is the part of the yard was once the place where his mother used to read her favorite books and relax.
Yes, his mother loved to read books. And she used to say that books take her to the areas of the world where she haven't seen yet. Since then, he has adopted this hobby of his mother, reading.
Sesshomaru cast his eyes down to the floor for a while then closed his eyes. He missed his mother so much. He missed her company, her cheerfulness, her face, her everything. Since the day of her death, he missed her. She was her only friend and when she died, he felt like he was torn apart.
Then later on his father brought a woman and her son to their home. His father soon convinced him to treat her the way he did with her mother, but he refused and ran away feeling very disappointed.
That was when he met that little girl...
The little girl who lend him her coat.
A little girl with big cloudy sapphire eyes and a wide but adorable toothy grin, and calls her Sess-chan.
Sesshomaru lifted a hand and ran his fingers though his hair.
Kagome.
~~~
~ Everything was dark. There were no windows to let the light of the sun pass through the great abyss of darkness that surrounded her. It's like she is the only person standing in this unknown space since there were no voices or even rustles of clothes that would tell her she is not all alone.
She started running, running to nowhere, and headed to any place her feet would take her. Any place where she can find some light, any place she can hear voices.
She called out names: her faithful friend, her mother, her brother and grandfather. She even called out to her deceased father for guidance. But there were no replies; she heard nothing else except her own, quivering voice.
Hopeless and grieved, she let herself fall down to her knees. She felt like crying but it seems that she has lost her tears. In her mind, she is deeply confused where she is, but her soul is as peaceful as the seas, as though she's not confused or troubled at all.
Again, she asked herself where she is and where she should go. When suddenly, a soft light, perhaps coming from a lit candle, sparked at the once darkened area before her. And upon instinct, she lifted her chin to the direction of the light to see if her help has finally come to save her.
Please let it be anybody. Inu Yasha, Papa, Mama, Souta, Oji-san...
But what it was the exact opposite of what she wished it would be.
In the lightened space was a tall man, standing perfectly still, with his back facing her. He had long, white hair, long limbs and broad shoulders. He is the man she least hoped for.
This is the time when her emotions dashed to her side.
"You?! What in the world are you doing here?! You were the last person I was expecting and thank whoever sent you here, it's you. Now what do you want? Do want to make me suffer again and stab me with the peculiar eloquence of your words?"
Anger completely ruled over her once idle being. But when he pretended he heard nothing and not even cared to look in her direction, she became more enraged.
"Good, pretend like you didn't heard me." She took three swift steps towards him and stopped after that. "Look, Mister, if you think you've already won the battle, then think again! The battle between the two of us has just ---"
He had caught him off guard when he turned to her, his eyes welling with tears, his thin, pale lips quivering, telling her his fears and weaknesses.
"I don't want you to leave. I never wanted to leave you. But you just couldn't understand..."
His voice was just thoughts. But she swore it was his voice, not just her thoughts. His pain felt so real, so gloomy, so... so...
Painful... ~
"Madam Kagome?" Somebody knocked on the door. Kagome opened her eyes and sighed.
So it was just a dream? She lifted herself to sit on the bed, Sesshomaru's bed if she's not mistaken, and pushed the covers off of her grouchily.
"Madam? You must wake up now, the Young Master is asking for your presence in the dining room, for lunch."
Kagome snorted angrily. "So he's looking for me, isn't he? Well, tell him I'm not getting out of this room and won't eat if that only means seeing him."
"But... M-Madam..."
"Tell him that. And no thanks, I don't like to take anything from him, not even the grub served for him."
The maid seemed to have given up. The knocks on the door stopped, and the soft, fading footsteps gave Kagome the impression that she walked away.
Man, Kagome. Surely someone else braver will come to you and negotiate. She sighed. Getting off from the bed, she walked towards the table where a few books stood. She took one in her hands and opened it for her eyes to see.
Carrying the book in her arms, she walked towards the large mirror standing on it's own and took a good look at herself.
Good thing nobody stripped off her dress to change it into something new. She was still wearing the peach dress she was given this morning. And on cue, the same moment she recalled of being asked to wear the dress, she retraced the events that happened to her after taking her breakfast with Sesshomaru.
He was sitting there, perfectly still. And he didn't even bothered to glance at her, not even steal one from her. Properly he sat on the dining chair, and the way he lifts his utensils to his lips was very reserved and graceful she could hardly think this person is a well-educated, matured man, not a woman.
He was gorgeously handsome, and she meant it. Every fraction of his form was perfectly sculptured, almost mimicking the greatness heavenly angels possess. His long and silvery-white hair looked gorgeous, not only to her, but also to other women as well.
Other women? Now that's another good topic to talk about.
I wonder if he's gotten himself a girlfriend? Kagome smirked. But I doubt it, since he's too arrogant for ordinary women to withstand. She's laughing now, thinking if there is any woman alive that can make the "Young Prince" look like a "Young Servant".
Three soft knocks on the door took her back to the world from her reveries.
"Madam? Food is served." That is Hao's old, hoarse voice, begging her to go to the dining area right away. Sesshomaru has raised his voice again to the poor old man. Oh well...
"I'm not hungry, Hao. Thanks anyway." She nicely replied, although she felt her stomach complain and grumble.
"But... M-madam...? The Young Master is furious of you since you did not showed up for lunch."
"Hao, I'm sorry I just don't want to see him." Kagome walked back to the large bed and sat on the edge. "You know how much I hate him, please understand..."
"Madam, not complying with his request will only make matters worse...?" The old man sadly spoke.
"I don't care. I don't want to see him."
Kagome heard his footsteps, as if he's leaving. She doesn't want to upset the old man, all he wanted is for his young master and his madam to get together well, and she cant blame him for that. He is under strict orders and he must obey unless he wants to be stripped away from his job. It is quite difficult for the old man to find another job that will fit him, and if he doesn't work, he won't earn money for his own family.
But she just had to refuse. She doesn't want to be treated like she's born only to comply with rich people's wishes or obey any of their orders. To her, no matter how high their living standards are, she still has her own right to decline or accept anything from them.
"I will be firm and stubborn. I can't let them do this to me. I can't let them treat me this way!!" Kagome flipped the hardbound cover of the book open and started reading the third page, since the first two pages were blank But to her surprise, instead of seeing the small printed texts of most books, she saw handwritten but neat letters in cursive written on the book. And to make things worse, when she flipped one page back, she saw the word 'Solitudinis" written at the lower right part of the page, also written in neat cursive.
'Solitudinis' means 'solitude' in Latin...
Kagome gasped and quickly closed the book. She figured out that it was Sesshomaru's diary. The first thought that came to her is that Sesshomaru is actually keeping a diary! It's very unusual for guys to make a diary. And the second is that leaving a diary on a table and not putting it into a shelf while the owner is sharing a bedroom with another person is simply incomprehensible! Who knows, somebody might just peek on it and find out all your deepest secrets! ... Just like what she 'accidentally' did.
She was so engrossed in figuring those things out that she didn't notice the diary owner come inside the bedroom.
And the diary was still in her hands.
"What do you think are you doing?" He lifted his hand to his waist and raised a brow. Upon hearing his voice, Kagome turned to him and dropped the book on the floor.
"Uh... Um..."
Sesshomaru looked down to her feet where the book fell. He recognized the book cover quickly and returned his gaze to her flushed face.
"And what were you doing to my book?" He walked towards the book to pick it up and settle it back to where he left it last night.
"I was just curious..."
"Of knowing what I am thinking? I never thought you were used to violating rules." Sesshomaru knelt in front of her and picked the book from the floor.
"NO." Kagome exclaimed quickly. She nervously entwined her hands together and played with her fingers. "I never thought that it is your journal. I'm... I'm sorry..."
"Sorry? What's the use of your apologetic words now that you have violated my regulations in this house?"
Kagome shook her head. "I'm apologizing for touching your personal things, not for not coming down for lunch!"
He stood up and placed the book on the bed and glanced at her. "Aren't you hungry?"
"No." Kagome frowned at him. "Why did I apologize anyway? It is you who should do the apologizing stuff, not me."
"This Sesshomaru doesn't do that." He snorted arrogantly.
"Oh, really? So be it, but I will NEVER eat anything WITH you, get it?"
Just right after saying her last words, a low, grumbling sound disturbed the fiery discussion and made a soft reddish flush on Kagome's cheeks.
"Are you sure you are not hungry?"
After a while of fighting the feeling of blushing, she snapped angrily. "No, thank you." Then she turned around and walked towards the window.
Sesshomaru felt like mocking the woman more and teasing her, but he decided to allow her time to adjust to him.
The old man is probably right. Just let her do what she wants, for now.
Sesshomaru left the room without saying anything. And outside, the moment he closed the door of the bedroom, a smiling Hao greeted him, he bowed low and looked up to him.
"You did good, Young Master."
"Yes, perhaps." Sesshomaru replied. "Just remind me." He sighed.
"Yes. About controlling your temper whenever you are around Madam."
With that, Sesshomaru walked away. Hao watched him leave while he stroked his temples smoothly.
His plan worked.
Hao went to the door and knocked once.
"How did things go, Madam?"
"Good." Kagome's faint voice came. "But not good enough. He's faking it, I can see."
"Faking what, Madam?"
"His kindness and softness towards me. It's really annoying, now that I already know what his real characteristics are. And I know the 'being-nice' thing is fake."
Hao laughed.
Another mission to fulfill!!!
He left the door and headed to the dining area to stay with his Master. He'll be back to his plan of persuading his Master to be nice.
Sounds unbelievable to others who knows Sesshomaru, but since the man himself is also accepting the change...
It's starting to sound realistic.
The old man started walking away. On his face, a wide smile is plastered as an effect of the happy ideas he has in his old, bald, head.
Things will be a lot better from here on...
~~~
Author's notes: There. Good, ne? I just want to warn my readers with the age thirteen and below, probably the next second chapter will contain some nasty things, (make no mistake about that...) since Naraku will show up on chapter 7. But we're close to the ending, since I don't want this to exceed up to ten or eleven chapters. I'll finish this up by the tenth. There will be more problems when the other Inu Yasha characters show up. But watch out, Rin-chan fans, she'll make a wonderful entrance by the next second chapter!!! Sorry if I don't reply personally to my reviewers... *sniffsniff* but I hope I'll get to answer your questions sooner. ^_^ Peace!!
~~~
The walls were as white as snow. The floors were covered with peach and white clean ceramic tiles. Women were walking around, wearing short, pencil- cut and short-sleeved clothes, taking swift strides along the wide, quiet corridors while carrying a small notebook and a couple of medicines in brown and white boxes, perhaps in a hurry. But of course, no woman can run fast with pencil-cut clothes. Most wore a long, white collared shirt with a formal silver ball pen pinned on their chest pockets, and some were in white clothes with large pockets in the sides. Stethoscopes were around their necks.
This had happened to him before. Gloomy white rooms, gloomy faces, withered and sick bodies laid on pure white sheets, and dismal people mourned around the bed frame. Everything was so dreary. The muffled voices and cries echoed in the snow-white halls. Everybody can hear the mourning voices. Everybody can feel the sadness of the mourner's fruitless efforts of bringing the cold cadavers back to life. If there is somebody who doesn't, then he or she is definitely a gargoyle.
Yes, this really had happened. He could hardly remember. He was still a child then. But he could remember not to understand what exactly was going on. His father laid on the bed, his mother next to him, and his big brother, well he couldn't really recall. But he could recall seeing those precious tears fall from his mother's cheeks. This sight made him feel like he's carrying a heavy box in his chest. He felt like crying, but he was too confused to allow too many emotions to wash over him.
He had his amber eyes on his good friend Kagome. Minutes ago she was crying, and he felt like crying too, but now she's laughing and smiling. Perhaps relieved of seeing her mother look quite healthy on the bed she's sitting on.
Inu Yasha stayed on the room's door and watched the people that accepted him proclaim joyous thanks that nothing dreadful happened to each of them. He was quite happy himself when Kagome's oji-san told him that her oka-san is doing fine in the hospital. Higurashi-san had been a very loving person, thank Kami she's still alive and she's all right.
"Kagome." He called seriously from the door. His tone caught the attention of the two.
"Yes, Inu Yasha? What is it?" Kagome answered back.
"I don't want to spoil your fun, but..." He paused for a while and sighed. "My brother will come here and get you."
Mrs. Higurashi shook her head. "No, Inu Yasha. For the last time, I will not allow him to take my daughter from me."
"Higurashi-san," Inu Yasha sadly answered. "He will never stop until he gets what he wants. He's too stubborn to give way. Besides, without Kagome, he can't claim his birthrights."
Kagome stood up and walked to him. "Inu Yasha, I don't want to go back in there. I don't want to worry my Oka-san again." She looked over her shoulder and smiled at her mother.
He sighed. "That's what I'm talking about. We have to go somewhere, anywhere. So he can't track you down."
Kagome turned to her mother and then back to Inu Yasha. "Let's go." She nodded.
"Mama, I'll call oji-chan to watch over you while were away, okee?"
"Okee." Mrs.Higurash smiled. "Take good care of her for me, my dear."
"Hai." Inu Yasha bowed low to Mrs. Higurashi and pulled Kagome out of the room. "Let's go."
Kagome had high hopes that her life will be back to normal once they get far from the hospital. Sooner or later, her mother would come back to their little home where they can live happily ever after. They could also move to another place so they'll live in peace again.
But all her happy thoughts of the future vanished when Inu Yasha stopped in his tracks and she paused in agony and saw the man of her nightmares standing in front of them, with sharp eyes and a deadly blank face. He had simple clothes on, a polo shirt and black pants, like he pulled anything from his closet and left.
"What the hell do you want this time, Sesshomaru?" Inu Yasha frowned and clenched his fists furiously.
"Damn you. Why do you always have to stand in my way?" His voice was fuming, but his face was as impassive as ever.
"She will never be happy with a demon like you! She doesn't want to be with you either!" Inu Yasha stepped forward, but Kagome held his arms and pulled him back.
Sesshomaru became more irritated when he saw this. "So, the slut doesn't want me because she wants you? Now that's a compromise."
"Asshole!!" Inu Yasha yelled at him. And if it wasn't for Kagome, he already had launched his fists to his brother's face. "Don't you DARE call her that!!"
"Give her to me and everything will be over."
"No, you asshole. Everything will be a lot worse if I give her to you! You're nothing but a heartless damned bullshit that thinks of nothing else but your stupid birthright --!"
Inu Yasha didn't saw where that fist came from, but he just fell onto his knees, choking at that strong blow delivered to his stomach and almost made him cough out the meal he took for breakfast. Kagome ran over to his side to comfort him somehow. "D-damn you!!!"
Sesshomaru walked closer to give him another shot for cursing him, but Kagome flashed him and angry look.
"Stop right there! Don't you take another step closer!" He could hear from her voice her fear. But it was mixed with doubting courage and anger.
"And what do you think you can do, bitch?" Sesshomaru watched her rise from the floor and returned the sharp look. "Now, come to me and we will leave right away."
"Stop calling me a bitch because I am not!" She snapped back. "Now I'll tell you that I WON'T come with you no matter what happens, hear that?! Now go away!" She demanded seriously.
"Kagome!" Mrs. Higurashi called from the room. The squeaking of the bed frame told her than she's trying to pull herself up. This made her shed tears. Her mother is recovering, but she's not advised to walk on her own yet.
"Please, Sesshomaru." Now Kagome was begging, not demanding. "I can't go with you."
She is so soft, so kind, so fragile "You must come with me."
She shook her head. Her tears fell from the corners of her eyes to the thin air. 'I don't want to go anywhere, please... My mother needs my help."
"She is old enough to help herself. She is of no essence to me, and she doesn't need you, I need you."
Sesshomaru mentally slapped himself. What were the last words he said? Did he just - -?
"No essence? Perhaps to you because you didn't even helped her out or asked your stupid guards to take her to the hospital when you took me away! Your men left her there to die! And if it wasn't for Inu Yasha, she could be dead by now! If I go with you and this happens to me, will you help me out?"
He was lost of words. He just watched her tears fall from her eyes and just listened to her shaking voice as she speaks.
"No, because all that is important to you are nothing else but your birthrights!"
"Shut up, wench. You know nothing." He calmly replied. He has a heart. He knows it. But she doesn't want to listen to anything he says because he is the villain here. He is the evil guy. He says nothing right and not even one of his verdicts is correct. None of his actions are proper.
"Now leave, PLEASE!" Kagome lowered her head and looked at the floor.
So this is the role they want me to play... Sesshomaru frowned. He already said that he 'needed' her, but she ignored it. Half of him wanted to renew his memories with her. Half of him wanted to refresh the thoughts he made for her that she is his only friend. But half of him hated her for ignoring him, for not hearing him out, for answering her back, for showing him how she worries and how she cares for his half-brother. And lastly, he hated her for making him think he is the scoundrel. Then so be it.
Sesshomaru pulled her arm and punched the part of her stomach near her diaphragm. She passed out at the blow then fell lifeless on his arms, and then he heard the old woman shout.
"Sesshomaru, please don't take her!!" Then a loud thump. The old woman probably hit the floor. And Inu Yasha, like he wasn't knocked down, he quickly stood up to his feet, ignoring the pain in his stomach and launched himself towards Sesshomaru, his fist in the air and tried to hit him with all his strength.
"Give her back to me, Sesshomaru!!" Sesshomaru was able to evade his attack by sidestepping to the left, and used his right leg to hit him again on his stomach.
For the second time, Inu Yasha fell on the clean white floor. And this time he coughed out red blood. Once, twice, and thrice. "Don't... Sessho- maru...!"
Then another scream came from the old woman in the room. "NO SESSHOMARU!!"
~~~
Sesshomaru carried her out of his car and took her inside of his home. Before entering the door, he looked up at the darkened skies and frowned. Rain will fall in a few minutes.
He took her slowly to his bedroom, laid her on his bed and placed the sheets over her up to her chest. There were still traces of tears on her face, but he didn't mind brushing it off. He walked to the other side of the room towards the full-scale windows and arranged the curtains, so that the sunlight won't disturb her.
For a while he stood on the side of the bed and stared at her intently. He didn't like the image he just showed in the hospital, but he has to be firm all the time. He mustn't take his words back, he should always mean it.
She stirred in her sleep. And mumbled a name under her breath. A name she will always pronounce in hatred, until the end of time.
"Sesshomaru... Don't..."
He wanted to reach down to her and comfort her. Tell her that he's not always edgy, not always stubborn. He is a type of person that is needed to be understood. He must be understood, before he will learn to understand.
Then the door suddenly opened. It was Hao, with sweat all over his face full of anxiety.
"Young Master? How is she? Is she okay?" The old man walked over to the bedroom. Sesshomaru didn't answered any of her questions and just walked away and left the room.
"Stay here until she wakes up."
"Yes, Master. Oh dear Kagome..."
Sesshomaru closed the door behind him. His stepmother stood by the door, looking at him with a dropping jaw and dilated eyes, waiting for him to explain what happened. But he doesn't feel like talking. Perhaps he'll just go back to his office and work with his papers. He's too tired to explain things again when the listener's not going to listen but criticize.
He just walked away without saying a word.
Another weakness he cannot overcome.
And some people say he is strong.
How can a man be strong if he cannot win over his own weaknesses?
~~~
He walked straight to his office down to the first floor of his mansion. The moment he got to the door of his office, he pulled the door, went inside and slammed the door back close. That was his way of telling people to keep away and that he is, again, in a foul mood.
He walked towards the curtain-covered windows and pulled the curtains neatly to the sides to let the last rays of the sun reach his room. He was right, it's going to rain. It's still summer, all right, but a few weeks more, they would start to experience the cold puffs of the approaching autumn, and soon, winter.
Sesshomaru just stood there and stared at the magnificent view of his backyard from his window. There were pots of poppies, morning glories, roses and hawthorns in different sizes, shapes and colors neatly arranged on the grassy ground. And among the pots stood an old wooden lounger, which, he could recall, is the part of the yard was once the place where his mother used to read her favorite books and relax.
Yes, his mother loved to read books. And she used to say that books take her to the areas of the world where she haven't seen yet. Since then, he has adopted this hobby of his mother, reading.
Sesshomaru cast his eyes down to the floor for a while then closed his eyes. He missed his mother so much. He missed her company, her cheerfulness, her face, her everything. Since the day of her death, he missed her. She was her only friend and when she died, he felt like he was torn apart.
Then later on his father brought a woman and her son to their home. His father soon convinced him to treat her the way he did with her mother, but he refused and ran away feeling very disappointed.
That was when he met that little girl...
The little girl who lend him her coat.
A little girl with big cloudy sapphire eyes and a wide but adorable toothy grin, and calls her Sess-chan.
Sesshomaru lifted a hand and ran his fingers though his hair.
Kagome.
~~~
~ Everything was dark. There were no windows to let the light of the sun pass through the great abyss of darkness that surrounded her. It's like she is the only person standing in this unknown space since there were no voices or even rustles of clothes that would tell her she is not all alone.
She started running, running to nowhere, and headed to any place her feet would take her. Any place where she can find some light, any place she can hear voices.
She called out names: her faithful friend, her mother, her brother and grandfather. She even called out to her deceased father for guidance. But there were no replies; she heard nothing else except her own, quivering voice.
Hopeless and grieved, she let herself fall down to her knees. She felt like crying but it seems that she has lost her tears. In her mind, she is deeply confused where she is, but her soul is as peaceful as the seas, as though she's not confused or troubled at all.
Again, she asked herself where she is and where she should go. When suddenly, a soft light, perhaps coming from a lit candle, sparked at the once darkened area before her. And upon instinct, she lifted her chin to the direction of the light to see if her help has finally come to save her.
Please let it be anybody. Inu Yasha, Papa, Mama, Souta, Oji-san...
But what it was the exact opposite of what she wished it would be.
In the lightened space was a tall man, standing perfectly still, with his back facing her. He had long, white hair, long limbs and broad shoulders. He is the man she least hoped for.
This is the time when her emotions dashed to her side.
"You?! What in the world are you doing here?! You were the last person I was expecting and thank whoever sent you here, it's you. Now what do you want? Do want to make me suffer again and stab me with the peculiar eloquence of your words?"
Anger completely ruled over her once idle being. But when he pretended he heard nothing and not even cared to look in her direction, she became more enraged.
"Good, pretend like you didn't heard me." She took three swift steps towards him and stopped after that. "Look, Mister, if you think you've already won the battle, then think again! The battle between the two of us has just ---"
He had caught him off guard when he turned to her, his eyes welling with tears, his thin, pale lips quivering, telling her his fears and weaknesses.
"I don't want you to leave. I never wanted to leave you. But you just couldn't understand..."
His voice was just thoughts. But she swore it was his voice, not just her thoughts. His pain felt so real, so gloomy, so... so...
Painful... ~
"Madam Kagome?" Somebody knocked on the door. Kagome opened her eyes and sighed.
So it was just a dream? She lifted herself to sit on the bed, Sesshomaru's bed if she's not mistaken, and pushed the covers off of her grouchily.
"Madam? You must wake up now, the Young Master is asking for your presence in the dining room, for lunch."
Kagome snorted angrily. "So he's looking for me, isn't he? Well, tell him I'm not getting out of this room and won't eat if that only means seeing him."
"But... M-Madam..."
"Tell him that. And no thanks, I don't like to take anything from him, not even the grub served for him."
The maid seemed to have given up. The knocks on the door stopped, and the soft, fading footsteps gave Kagome the impression that she walked away.
Man, Kagome. Surely someone else braver will come to you and negotiate. She sighed. Getting off from the bed, she walked towards the table where a few books stood. She took one in her hands and opened it for her eyes to see.
Carrying the book in her arms, she walked towards the large mirror standing on it's own and took a good look at herself.
Good thing nobody stripped off her dress to change it into something new. She was still wearing the peach dress she was given this morning. And on cue, the same moment she recalled of being asked to wear the dress, she retraced the events that happened to her after taking her breakfast with Sesshomaru.
He was sitting there, perfectly still. And he didn't even bothered to glance at her, not even steal one from her. Properly he sat on the dining chair, and the way he lifts his utensils to his lips was very reserved and graceful she could hardly think this person is a well-educated, matured man, not a woman.
He was gorgeously handsome, and she meant it. Every fraction of his form was perfectly sculptured, almost mimicking the greatness heavenly angels possess. His long and silvery-white hair looked gorgeous, not only to her, but also to other women as well.
Other women? Now that's another good topic to talk about.
I wonder if he's gotten himself a girlfriend? Kagome smirked. But I doubt it, since he's too arrogant for ordinary women to withstand. She's laughing now, thinking if there is any woman alive that can make the "Young Prince" look like a "Young Servant".
Three soft knocks on the door took her back to the world from her reveries.
"Madam? Food is served." That is Hao's old, hoarse voice, begging her to go to the dining area right away. Sesshomaru has raised his voice again to the poor old man. Oh well...
"I'm not hungry, Hao. Thanks anyway." She nicely replied, although she felt her stomach complain and grumble.
"But... M-madam...? The Young Master is furious of you since you did not showed up for lunch."
"Hao, I'm sorry I just don't want to see him." Kagome walked back to the large bed and sat on the edge. "You know how much I hate him, please understand..."
"Madam, not complying with his request will only make matters worse...?" The old man sadly spoke.
"I don't care. I don't want to see him."
Kagome heard his footsteps, as if he's leaving. She doesn't want to upset the old man, all he wanted is for his young master and his madam to get together well, and she cant blame him for that. He is under strict orders and he must obey unless he wants to be stripped away from his job. It is quite difficult for the old man to find another job that will fit him, and if he doesn't work, he won't earn money for his own family.
But she just had to refuse. She doesn't want to be treated like she's born only to comply with rich people's wishes or obey any of their orders. To her, no matter how high their living standards are, she still has her own right to decline or accept anything from them.
"I will be firm and stubborn. I can't let them do this to me. I can't let them treat me this way!!" Kagome flipped the hardbound cover of the book open and started reading the third page, since the first two pages were blank But to her surprise, instead of seeing the small printed texts of most books, she saw handwritten but neat letters in cursive written on the book. And to make things worse, when she flipped one page back, she saw the word 'Solitudinis" written at the lower right part of the page, also written in neat cursive.
'Solitudinis' means 'solitude' in Latin...
Kagome gasped and quickly closed the book. She figured out that it was Sesshomaru's diary. The first thought that came to her is that Sesshomaru is actually keeping a diary! It's very unusual for guys to make a diary. And the second is that leaving a diary on a table and not putting it into a shelf while the owner is sharing a bedroom with another person is simply incomprehensible! Who knows, somebody might just peek on it and find out all your deepest secrets! ... Just like what she 'accidentally' did.
She was so engrossed in figuring those things out that she didn't notice the diary owner come inside the bedroom.
And the diary was still in her hands.
"What do you think are you doing?" He lifted his hand to his waist and raised a brow. Upon hearing his voice, Kagome turned to him and dropped the book on the floor.
"Uh... Um..."
Sesshomaru looked down to her feet where the book fell. He recognized the book cover quickly and returned his gaze to her flushed face.
"And what were you doing to my book?" He walked towards the book to pick it up and settle it back to where he left it last night.
"I was just curious..."
"Of knowing what I am thinking? I never thought you were used to violating rules." Sesshomaru knelt in front of her and picked the book from the floor.
"NO." Kagome exclaimed quickly. She nervously entwined her hands together and played with her fingers. "I never thought that it is your journal. I'm... I'm sorry..."
"Sorry? What's the use of your apologetic words now that you have violated my regulations in this house?"
Kagome shook her head. "I'm apologizing for touching your personal things, not for not coming down for lunch!"
He stood up and placed the book on the bed and glanced at her. "Aren't you hungry?"
"No." Kagome frowned at him. "Why did I apologize anyway? It is you who should do the apologizing stuff, not me."
"This Sesshomaru doesn't do that." He snorted arrogantly.
"Oh, really? So be it, but I will NEVER eat anything WITH you, get it?"
Just right after saying her last words, a low, grumbling sound disturbed the fiery discussion and made a soft reddish flush on Kagome's cheeks.
"Are you sure you are not hungry?"
After a while of fighting the feeling of blushing, she snapped angrily. "No, thank you." Then she turned around and walked towards the window.
Sesshomaru felt like mocking the woman more and teasing her, but he decided to allow her time to adjust to him.
The old man is probably right. Just let her do what she wants, for now.
Sesshomaru left the room without saying anything. And outside, the moment he closed the door of the bedroom, a smiling Hao greeted him, he bowed low and looked up to him.
"You did good, Young Master."
"Yes, perhaps." Sesshomaru replied. "Just remind me." He sighed.
"Yes. About controlling your temper whenever you are around Madam."
With that, Sesshomaru walked away. Hao watched him leave while he stroked his temples smoothly.
His plan worked.
Hao went to the door and knocked once.
"How did things go, Madam?"
"Good." Kagome's faint voice came. "But not good enough. He's faking it, I can see."
"Faking what, Madam?"
"His kindness and softness towards me. It's really annoying, now that I already know what his real characteristics are. And I know the 'being-nice' thing is fake."
Hao laughed.
Another mission to fulfill!!!
He left the door and headed to the dining area to stay with his Master. He'll be back to his plan of persuading his Master to be nice.
Sounds unbelievable to others who knows Sesshomaru, but since the man himself is also accepting the change...
It's starting to sound realistic.
The old man started walking away. On his face, a wide smile is plastered as an effect of the happy ideas he has in his old, bald, head.
Things will be a lot better from here on...
~~~
Author's notes: There. Good, ne? I just want to warn my readers with the age thirteen and below, probably the next second chapter will contain some nasty things, (make no mistake about that...) since Naraku will show up on chapter 7. But we're close to the ending, since I don't want this to exceed up to ten or eleven chapters. I'll finish this up by the tenth. There will be more problems when the other Inu Yasha characters show up. But watch out, Rin-chan fans, she'll make a wonderful entrance by the next second chapter!!! Sorry if I don't reply personally to my reviewers... *sniffsniff* but I hope I'll get to answer your questions sooner. ^_^ Peace!!